Group text helps Philadelphia Eagles’ bond persist, Jordan Hicks says

PHILADELPHIA — Jordan Hicks hasn’t had to wonder what his Eagles teammates are up to this offseason.

A handful of the players came together to attend tight end Zach Ertz’s wedding to soccer star Julie Johnston this winter, a few took off on a fishing trip a few weeks ago and others attended a conference for Christian athletes in Florida.

And in 2017, teammates can stay connected even when they don’t take trips together.

“Group text makes it 100 times easier nowadays to just throw a text in there and everybody just responds,” Hicks said. “You get notification after notification.”

Hicks, 24, has spent his whole adulthood in a smartphone-centric world, so he shouldn’t be too amazed by the text thread. But he is excited about the camaraderie on the Eagles.

After the team reconstructed its roster last season in the wake of former coach-de facto general manager Chip Kelly’s departure, this offseason has included more continuity.

Quarterback Carson Wentz is cemented as the face of the franchise. Hicks and other defensive linchpins, like Fletcher Cox and Malcolm Jenkins, are veering toward their second year under coordinator Jim Schwartz.

And many of the players are developing deep friendships, whether through the help of technology or fishing poles.

“It’s been awesome, and I think it’s really going to help at the end of the day, just having that chemistry,” Hicks said. “When you’re playing with a bunch of guys who like each other and respect each other and want to play for each other, that’s when the next step happens.”